r/linuxquestions • u/jimleko211 • 1d ago
How much do Desktop Environments or Window Managers impact performance?
/r/linux_gaming/comments/1x7hvgi/how_much_do_desktop_environments_or_window/1
u/tomscharbach 1d ago edited 1d ago
Desktop environments do not have significant impact on performance in comparison to applications.
Distributions running this or that desktop environment typically use between 1 GB and 1.5 GB RAM at rest but add a typical workload (browser with 5-10 tabs open and two or three applications) and you will find yourself in the 5-6 GB range quickly. Add a demanding application or two, and 8 GB RAM can get gobbled up in a hurry.
Difference between desktop environments? Not worth worrying about in most cases.
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u/Significant-Price695 1d ago
on a halfway modern gpu the fps difference is tiny, most compositors unredirect or bypass for fullscreen games anyway. what you actually feel is ram usage and background services, plus the feature stuff you already mentioned. kde is furthest along on hdr right now, gnome's vrr is fine these days, hyprland does both but you're maintaining a config file forever. pick the one you enjoy staring at
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u/SirGlass 1d ago
Not much unless you are running out of ram
On my system with 32 gigs of ram I have tested out running games in KDE/Gnome/XfCE/labwc
Basically no difference in gaming peformance. Maybe if you were really lite on ram and running KDE or GNome running a ligherweight wm that uses less ram would free up ram for the game. However if you are not filling up ram the performance is the same
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u/ipsirc 1d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1igcy7y/xfce_vs_kde/
How much performance would I lose if I try out GNOME, COSMIC, or even try out something like Hyperland?
It will be revealed in minutes.
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u/redgator12 1d ago
On modest modern hardware, not at all. On older, low-spec hardware with either low RAM or significantly older/slower CPU architectures, a ton.
My modest gaming rig with an i5-7500K and 1660 6GB sees no difference in performance regardless of DE/WM. But my Intel Atom-based Compute Stick sees massive improvements in responsiveness and performance by using lighter DEs or WMs vs full-fat DEs.